Grundy boys fall to Falcons

GRUNDY CENTER – The NICL-East prevailed over the NICL-West Friday night when Aplington-Parkersburg handed Grundy Center a 62-39 loss on the Spartans’ home court.
The Spartans (3-5 overall, 3-1 NICL-West) were scheduled to play Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and West Marshall on Friday, Jan. 10, both in Grundy Center.
Aplington-Parkersburg 62, Grundy Center 39
Aplington-Parkersburg brought momentum from a win Thursday night with them as they took the court in Grundy Center Friday, and came away with a big 62-39 win over the Spartans.
“A-P came into the game having just pulled off a big win over AGWSR, a win they needed as they have been playing everyone tough all season,” Grundy Center head coach Rollie Ackerman said. “Give them credit; they shot the ball very well.”
The Falcons shot 55 percent from the field compared to 33 percent by the Spartans.
“We went into the night to use this non-conference game to work on a couple of different defenses we will use in the stretch run of the conference season, as well as get everyone some playing time,” he said. “We were hampered somewhat, as we had several guys miss practice over break for various reasons, and we are fighting the flu bug right now, but that’s not an excuse, as A-P’s aggressiveness and us not responding well to that was the biggest difference in that game.”
A-P played a fast-paced game, and out-rebounded Grundy Center 31-21.
Jack Stumberg led the Spartans with 13 points. Jordan Stoner scored 11 points and came away with four rebounds. Brady Hook dished out four assists and blocked two shots.
Jake Schipper led the Falcons with 12 points, and Nick Waller and Corbin Brungard added 11 apiece.
“Despite the final outcome, I was pleased with some facets of the game that will help us as the season progresses, and we need to keep plugging away at the areas we need work on,” Ackerman said.
Grundy Center     8    14     7    10    —    39
A-P    19    15    16    12    —    62
   Grundy Center (39) – Austin Burroughs 1 0-2 3; Jack Stumberg 5 1-1 13; Jordan Clapp 0 0-0 0; Jordan Stoner 4 3-7 11; Brady Hook 1 1-2 4; Lane Bangasser 1 0-0 2; Bryce Moats 0 0-0 0; Tanner Pelzer 0 0-1 0; Sam Thompson 1 1-2 4; Jeff Pikna 1 0-2 2; Ethan Hogle 0 0-0 0; Nick Saak 0 0-0 0.
    3-point goals: Grundy Center 5 (Burroughs 1, Thompson 1, Stumberg 2, Hook 1), Aplington-Parkersburg 3. Rebounds: Grundy Center 21 (Clapp 4, Stoner 4), Aplington-Parkersburg 31. Assists: Grundy Center 11 (Hook 4), Aplington-Parkersburg 14. Steals: Grundy Center 1 (Thompson 1), Aplington-Parkersburg 14. Blocks: Grundy Center 2 (Hook 2), Aplington-Parkersburg 2. Fouled out: None. Total fouls: Grundy Center 12, Aplington-Parkersburg 14.